ESM Patron ready for Baltimore street fight

The Tequila Patrón-sponsored Extreme Speed Motorsports (ESM) team looks to capitalize on this weekend’s Baltimore Sports Car Challenge presented by SRT, all-out two-hour sprint through Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, the eighth round of competition in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) presented by Tequila Patrón.

The magic number this weekend for ESM is two. The ESM team is heading full throttle through the concrete canyons of Baltimore, the second race for Charm City, and the second street course of the ALMS season. The two-hour event is two miles in length and the two-car ESM team looks for a double podium for the No. 01 and No. 02 Tequila Patrón Ferrari Italia 458 cars and drivers.

“The two-hour format should bode well for Ed (Brown) and me. We were strong on the streets of Long Beach so we’ll have a good setup heading into the Baltimore street circuit. It’s a condensed schedule with limited track time, so it’s important to be strong rolling off the trailer. We are ready” stated driver Guy Cosmo.

During the Long Beach street race earlier this season, the No. 01 Tequila Patrón Ferrari Italia 458 finished in third place, the first podium finish for co-drivers Scott Sharp and Johannes van Overbeek this season. The two veteran drivers have earned three podium finishes in 2012 – two third places and one victory. Both Sharp and van Overbeek excel at street circuits and expect a solid finish this weekend, en route to the best season on record for the No. 01 car. The experienced drivers know that patience and strategy will be the keys to success this weekend.

“The ESM Patrón Ferrari’s handled very well at Long Beach on route to our first podium finish this season. Since Long Beach, the ESM team has worked tirelessly to improve our Ferraris and with all of the work the team has done and everything that we’ve all learned since April, I’m sure we can get even more speed out of the car for Baltimore” stated team principle Scott Sharp.

Guy Cosmo and Ed Brown, co-drivers of the No. 02 Tequila Patrón Ferrari Italia 458, finished the 2011 Baltimore race, in 10th place, just one position behind its sister car. Similar to the No. 01 drivers, Cosmo and Brown look forward to attacking the short course all while keeping an eye on the clock since the Baltimore race will pass by very quickly.

“We’re excited to get to the final street course of the year in the great city of Baltimore. The fans last year were just awesome. It had to have been one of the largest crowds of the year and they were so excited for us to be there” added Ed Brown.

Before the on-track action begins, the Extreme Speed Motorsports team will cruise over to Baltimore’s Little Italy, on Wednesday, August 29, between 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. Sharp, van Overbeek and Cosmo, and the No. 01 and No. 02 Tequila Patrón Ferrari Italy 458 race cars will celebrate the race car’s Italian heritage by driving down High Street. During the event, the ESM drivers will participate in Little Italy’s traditional bocce ball game, enjoy a meet and greet with fans and spend time in the historic and celebrated Little Italy community.

The Baltimore Sports Car Challenge presented by SRT is a two-day event. The team will take to the track for two practice sessions on Friday, August 31, followed by qualifying at 5:27 p.m. (ET). Green flag for the race is on Saturday, September 1, at 4:30 p.m. (ET).

“Baltimore has a great rhythm and combination of fast and slow corners that ought to suit the ESM/Patrón Ferrari. Due to the short nature of the race, it should be action packed from the drop. If our setup from Long Beach transfers, we should be in fighting form for the two hour race on Saturday and in good position at the end of it!” added Johannes van Overbeek.

On Saturday, September 1, full and live coverage starts at 4:15 p.m. ET on ESPN3. ABC’s television coverage of the Baltimore Sports Car Challenge presented by SRT begins at noon (ET) on Sunday, September. 2.

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